Parking meter



Jan. 6, 1942. F. L; MucHAELs PARKING METER Filed May 12, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fidII/f A. Michael:

ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1942. I F. L. MICHAELS vPARKING METER Filed May 12,1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Jan. 6, 194. F. L. MICHAELS 2,268,716

PARKING METER Filed May 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARKING METER Frank L.Michaels, Fort Thomas, Ky.

Application May 12, 1936, Serial No. 79,302

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to automobile parking meters and has foran object the provision of a metering and signalling device which iseffective in materially assisting in the police regulation of parking incommunities and places where such regulation is considered necessary ordesirable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindrequiring prepayment of one or several coins or tokens as an initialnecessary operation in conditioning the device to indicate legal andproper parking of an automobile in a designated parking berth located ina proper place, for example, at the side of a thoroughfare.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this typeenabling the motorist to selectively prepay a short or extended parkingperiod by the deposit of one or several coins or tokens, the devicebeing further arranged with an indicator, visible after the properinsertion of a coin and actuation of the device, informing the motoristof the approximate amount of prepaid parking time remaining.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindhaving a simple means whereby the time period of operation of theparking meter is accumulated by the deposit of a second coin or token,and to furthermore provide a simple means whereby the extent of parkingperiod for a given coin or coins deposited may be varied by anauthorized person charged with the maintenance and regulation of thedevices.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of this kind akey-controlled receptacle to facilitate collection of the deposits inthe parking meter, said collection receptacle being inaccessible to theperson charged with the maintenance of the operating mechanism andhaving access to said mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed having a window aperture in either or both sides through whichthe indicator is visible during the prepaid parking period and for ashort time thereafter and an automatically operable violation flag orsignal movable to a position of visibility through the window at theexact moment of expiration of the parking period but allowing theindicator to be seen for a predetermined time thereafter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified parking meterwherein an indicator, to show the remaining legal parking period, isdirectly driven from a simple and suitable driving means, the indicatorcarrying parts being operatively associated with an escapement brakecontrolling the return of the indicator to zero position.

Another object is to provide in the device just referred to, a simplebut efiective and fool-proof means whereby the driving means andassociated indicator are conditioned by the motorist only after depositof a proper coin, the extent of conditioning being in proportion to thenumber of coins or tokens deposited and in accordance with thepredetermined adjustment of the mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for thepurposes stated employing a practical minimum of comparativelyinexpensive parts in the construction thereof.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein anddisclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective rear view of a device of the invention in aninoperative condition.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, parts being broken away, and showing theoperating mechanism, the front casing member being .broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 with the front casingmember in closed position. Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing in separated relation a series ofworking parts forming details of the invention removed from the device,the shaft being broken away.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another part forming a detail of thedevice of the invention.

Parking meters of the present invention afiord the motorist anopportunity to initially actuate the device to operate for apredetermined short parking period or for a predetermined extendedparking period by the deposit of one or two coins and actuating themechanism a corresponding number of times. The normal short and extendedparking periods are established by city authorities in the usual mannerand are understood to differ in duration according to conditions wherethe meters are installed. Authorized.

be-considered as limited specifically to mechanism wherein two differentparking periods may be selectively prepaid.

In the present embodiment, the device comprises a base portion Illadapted to be fixedly flange section 3| (see Figs. 3 and 4).

mounted on a standard or post II. The base III is hollow and has akey-controlled door |2 at the rearward or sidewalk side affording accessto a removable coin receptacle I3. A pair of casing members l4 and I5are disposed above base l9 and are arranged to enclose the operatingmechanism with suitable provision for authorized access to themechanism. I I

The front casing member I4 is rigidly secured to or made integral withbase III, while rear easing member I! is hinged or otherwise movablysecured at It to said base. The operating mechanism is secured by screwsI! passing therethrough, and into tapped bosses I! on the inner face ofeasing member l5.

Thus, when access to the operating mechanism becomes necessary, a keyoperated holding nut l9 of any suitable kind mounted on member I! isrotated to unscrew it from threaded stud 20 fixed inside of member I4and the member I5 is swung downwardly about hinged mounting l6 carryingthe operating mechanism into fully exposed and readily accessibleposition.

The operating mechanism comprises a supporting plate 2| which is mountedin substantial parallelism with the inner face of casing member I5 bythe screws l1 passing therethrough and holding it upon bosses I3 and aseries of operating parts mounted coaxially on a transverse shaft 22which passes through a bore'in said plate 2|. The opposite end of shaft22 is journaled in a tubular hub 23 of a cross member'24 which isrigidly connected in spaced relation to plate 2| by fixing it to theends of posts 23 which may be integral with or attached to the plate 2|.The casing member I! has a drilled boss 23 concentric with the axis 'ofshaft 22 within which is disposed the stem 21 of an actuating handle 23.Stem 21 has an axial bore 29 in which the end of shaft 22 is journaled,while the end of the stem surrounding this bore is angularly formed orsquared off to fit into a corresponding aperture in a hub 39 which isprovided with an arcuate A coin guide member indicated generally as 32(see Figs. 3 and 5) is secured on the face of plate 2| and it,

her which extends to and interiorly communicates witha coin slot 33 inthe outer wall of member together with plate 2|, forms a coin chutememguide shoulders 4| on each side of the way and between these thecoins are visible through a tell-tale sight opening 42 surrounded by aboss 43 on-member It. This opening has a glass in it to exclude dust andmoisture. The coins that are retained exposed to view cannot beextracted from the way even though the glass be removed. At least twocoins are visible in this opening so that the use of slugs can bedetected and associated with the last party using the device.

Disposed between members 2| and 32 and partly in the coin way 35 isdrive segment 44 which is fixed on shaft 22. As can be best seen in Fig.5, the segment 44 has an arcuate slot 45 which lies parallel with slot34 in member 32 and allows the arcuate flange 3| to clear the segmentand to move in its normal path without imparting any movement'to saidsegment when handle 23 is turned. The segment 44 has a shoulder 43 and afinger 41 which are squarely within the path of a coin that enters theway 35 and the deposited coin stops with its periphery resting on theendof finger 41 and the arcuate shoulder 46 so that the coin now blocksthe free movement of flange 3| through arcuate slots 34 and 45. Plate 2|also has an arcuate slot 43 paralleling slots 34 and 45 into whichflange 3| extends. Referring now to Fig. 5, a coin C (shown in dottedlines) inside the way 35 is at rest on said finger 41 and shoulder 46 sothat the end of arcuate flange 3| may be turned to abut the coin andcause the coin in turn to impart rotary movement to segment 44 and theshaft 22 to which the latter is fixed.

The device further comprises a violation signal means including a pairof flags 49 that are vertically reciprocable as a unit within the casingto assume a raised position immediately behind windows 50 in the casingthrough which windows a suitable legend such as Violation, on the outerfaces of the flags, can be seen. The flags 49 are preferably so coloredthat, when raised, they can be .seen from a distance by persons in thestreet or on the sidewalk. Flags 49 are arcuateiy cut away at 490 forreasons hereafter explained. Means are provided for lowering the flagsupon deposit of a proper coin and manual operation of handle 28. Theflags are adapted to be held in lowered position until the termina- II.As can be best seen in Fig. 5, the member 32 9 tion of the properlyprepaid parking time and has an arcuate slot 34 concentric with the axisof shaft 22 and which is adapted to permit the arcuate flange 3| totraverse the angular way 35 in member 32 which is closed by the face ofplate 2| when operating handle 23 is rotated. A coil spring 36 has .oneend 31 thereof anchored in stem 21 and has its opposite end 33 anchoredinteriorly of perforate boss 23 in the casing member I! so that the stemand handle and the asso-' ciated hub and flang 30-3l are constantlyurged in Fig. 5 wherein the flange 3| is without the coin receiving way35. 7

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that clockwise rotation ofoperating handle 28.will not in a counterclockwise direction to a limitshown 1 i move the shaft 22 which is journaled for free and independentrotation in the stem 21 as aforesaid, so long as there is. no coin inthe way 35.

As can be fully seen from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 5, the way 35 forthe passage of coins extends from the coin slot 33 at'the side of casingmember IE to the bottom of plate 2| which is struck outwardly at 39 atthe discharge end of the way where the member 32 also terminates.

' Member 32 (see Fig. 5) is cut out as at 49 leaving then are raised tovisible position. Means are also provided to avoid any possible skillfulbut tion at the beginning of each coin controlled operation if thedevice is reset before expiration of a previous parking period, and areagain lowered during the following proper manual operation of handle 28.This prevents a user from prepaying a first parking period and thentrying to manipulate the machine with a second deposited'coin in aneffort to illegally prolong the period before the Violation signalrises.

An indicator mechanism, which is visible through windows 50 when theflags 49 are lowered, shows the amount of prepaid parkin time remainingat all times prior to the rise of flags 49. The cut-out portions 490 onthe flags also allows the indicator to be read for a short time, e. g.10 minutes after the parking time has been expired and the flags areraised.

The indicator and the violation signal means will now be described.

The parts are but few in number and they are shown separated and inperspective. Referepce to Fig. 6 in conjunction with Figs. 3 and 4 willshow the actual simplicity of construction and operation.

On the shaft 22 next to plate 2| an elongated spacer hub is mounted forfree movement and it carries an arm 52 to which link 53 is pivoted. Thepivot is extended through and beyond the arm to provide a latch pin 54.A light spring 55 is secured at one end to a pin 56 on plate 2| and to ahook 51 on the hub 5| and serves to urge arm 52 to clockwise movement onshaft 22 (Fig. 2) and to lift link 53 which has the cross bar 580pivoted thereto at 59. The flags 49 are held in spaced relation onuprights 60 and 6| which straddle the working parts and mounting plateof the device. The pairs of members 60 and 6| have the lower portionsturned horizontally and joined together forming members 62 and then downturned and connected to member 588. Members 62 are notched at 63 toguide on the opposite vertical edges of plate 2 I.

From the foregoing it will be seen that spring 55 will normally move arm52 about its pivot and thus lift the flags 49 and their supportingstructure by means of the link 53.

The means for lowering the signal flags comprises the pin or lug 58 ondrive segment 44 which lug extends through arcuate slot 48 in plate 2|.When segment 44 is turned by arcuate flange 3| and the interposed coinC, the lug 58 presses arm 52 downward against the resistance of spring55 and carries the flags 49 down below window 50. Latch member 64 (shownin perspective in Fig. 7) is also shown in phantom lines in Fig. 5. Asshown in Fig. 7 the latch member 64 has a latch lug 65 which is engagedby pin 54 to hold the arm 52 in a depressed position against theresistance of spring 55 and the signal flags and associated supportingstructure are thus normally kept in a lowered position until the latchis tripped by the return of a time indicator hand to zero position inthe manner hereinafter explained. Latch member 64 is pivoted to plate2|, the pivotal center 66 being disposed at the side of the bend in coinway 35 and so arranged as to allow the member 64 to swinggravitationally and with the assistance of a light spring 649 to aposition wherein the lug 65 is in the path of pin 54. On the faceopposite lug 65 is a finger 61 that extends through an aperture in plate2| and is adapted to normally hang in the coin way 35 and to bemomentarily pushed out of said way into a slot 68 in the adjacent sidewall of member 32 whenever a coin C is forced through way 35 by arcuateflange 3|. This constitutes the aforementioned means which momentarilyreleases the signal flag 49, if still lowered by reason of unexpiredoperation under previous setting. when a coin is inserted. The movementof latch member 54 on its pivot moves the latch lug 65 out of holdingcontact with pin 54. The resetting operation which follows thereafterwill again depress arm 52, lower the flag structure, and engage pin 54on lug 65 of latch 64 which shifted to latching position immediatelyafter the coin had passed the said finger 61. The latch member 64 alsohas an extended L shaped arm 69 which is moved at the expiration of anyprepaid parking period by means hereinafter described end 10 of thetubular hub 23 on cross member 24. Mounted for free rotation on tubularhub 23 is a sleeve H which has suitably fixed thereto a pin 12 overwhich the perforate end of an elongated flat spring 13 is hooked, theother end of spring 13 being looped about one of the posts upon whichcross member 24 is supported, thereby yieldably resisting turning of thesleeve on the hub in one direction. When the sleeve is turned spring I3becomes loaded and subsequently drives the sleeve in a reversedirection. Fixed on one end of sleeve 1| is a gear segment 14 which hasattached thereto or integral therewith a lug I5 in which is threadedlymounted an adjustable trip member which is a screw 16. The screw 16 maybe adjusted so that when the sleeve II and its associated parts arereturned to an initial position by spring 13 the L shaped extending arm69 on latch member 64 will be contacted and rocked thereby releasing theviolation signal flag holding means, this release of said flag beingindependent of the previously described momentary release of the flagson the initial actuation of the device upon insertion of a coin.

In order to effect selective setting of the meter and a correspondingwinding of the power spring I3 there is fixed to the opposite end ofsleeve H an indicator setting segment 11 which is provided at frequentintervals along its periphery with threaded perforations whichselectively receive threaded members such as screws 18. The member 11has a shoulder 19 near-one end, and this serves as a non-adjustableabutment or tooth for a drive pawl mechanism hereinafter described,while said screws 18 serve as adjustable abutments for the same pawl. Aprojecting lug on an extreme end of segment 11 is provided to contact astop 8| which may be integral with cross bar 24 for limiting movement ofsegment 11 under the power of spring I3. Brazed or otherwise secured toone face of segment 11 is an arm 82 which supports a pair of spacedindicator hands 83 connected by a transverse member 84.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when sleeve H is turned in onedirection the spring 13 will be tensioned or loaded and will turn saidsleeve and the indicator hands 83 supported thereby until lug 60 meetsthe stop 9|.

An adjustable plate 84 is mounted on hub 23 and adapted to be adjustablyfixed to the member 24 within the limits defined by arcuate slot 85 inmember 24 through which a binding screw 86 passes and engages in athreaded bore 81 in plate 84. The arcuate edge 88 of plate 84 is higherthan the tops of screws 18 so that the pawl 91 of the drive pawlmechanism may be held out of the path of these screws until after thesegment IT has been moved rotatably on hub 23 sufficiently to bring thescrews 18 beyond the end of plate 84. The drive pawl mechanism whichwill now be described derives its movement from shaft 22 and isfurthermore arranged to be subjected to limited adjustment about theshaft without necessitating removal of the part from shaft 22. This isaccomplished by fixing the hub portion 89 of a finger 90 onto shaft '2by means of a set screw 9|. This hub has a reduced outside diameter atthe end 92 thereof forming a seat over which pawl arm 93 fits and onwhich it is adapted for limited rotational adjustment. Pawl arm 93 has aflange 94 extending above finger 90 (see Fig. 2) and a screw 95 passingloosely through the bore in member 94 and threadedly engaging in thefinger 90 serves to effect a limited rotational adjustment of thesemembers. A small coil spring interposed between finger 90 and flange 94and surrounding the screw 95 serves to hold these parts in ad- ,iustedrelation. It will now be apparent that whenever shaft 22 is turnedmanually in counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2), the finger 90 which isfixed to said shaft will also be moved and will turn the pawl arm 93 andpush the pivotally attached overhanging pawl 91 along the arcuate face88 of plate 84 until the pawl reaches the end of said arcuate facewhereupon the pawl 91 dips downwardly under the influence of aconstantly urging actuated spring 98 whereupon it is free to contacteither the shoulder I9 or one of the selectively positioned screws 18which is beyond the end of arcuate periphery 88 of plate 84. The furtherrotational movement of the shaft now causes pawl 91 to drive segment 11counterclockwise (see Fig. 2) and with it the sleeve 1|, gear segment 14and the arm 82 carrying the indicator hands. It may here be noted thatby this arrangement the indicator hands 82-83 are moved or set apredetermined distance away from a zero position to a selected settingpoint. The lug 15 is also carried a corresponding distance away fromcontact with arm 59 on the latch member which controls the signal flag.Furthermore, the resetting movement tensions spring 13 which tends tourge the sleeve II and associated parts back to the zero or initialstarting position. The speed of return movement of segment I1; indicatorhands 83 and the trip lug I under the influence of spring 13 is retardedby an escapement brake mechanism indicated generally at 99 of thegeneral construction commonly found in spring driven clocks and whichincludes a pinion I00 meshing with the gear segment 14. This is shown inoperative position in phantom lines in Fig. 3 in the interest of clarityof disclosure in the drawings. The movement of the indicator hands 83thus retarded or braked serves to give a correct reading of theunexpired parking time as the points of the indicator hands pass beneathsuitably marked indicia |0| which, in the present embodiment, are formedon the casing members along the top edges of the window openings.

The operation of the device and the adjustment thereof will now bedescribed. The parking meters are adapted to be installed convenientlyadjacent properly marked parking spaces so that a motorist desiring tolegally park in such parking space or berth may prepay a selected shortor extended parking period before leaving the vicinity of his automobileparked in the said parking space. The prepayment of a short parkingperiod (e. g. minutes) is effected by inserting the proper coin (forexample one nickel) in the coin opening 33 at the side of the casing.The coin drops through the way 35 and comes to rest upon the shoulder 46and finger 41 of drive segment 44. The handle 28 can then be turnedclockwise (Fig. l) to impart rotation to shaft 22. If no coin isinserted or if an improper article such as a small slug is inserted anddrops through the aperture I02 in the side of the coin way, no movementwill be imparted to shaft 22 when the operating handle 28 is manipulatedbecause the flange 3| will merely ride through the arcuate slots 35, 45and 48 respectively. With the proper coin in position as aforesaid,clockwise movement of handle 28 will bring the end of arcuate flange 3|against the periphery of the coin C and cause it to push the segment 44about its axis thereby rotating shaft 22 to which the segment is fixed.The initial movement of the inserted coin C dislodges the lug 81 fromits position in the coin way 35 thereby rocking the member 54 about itsaxis so that if the violation signal flags 49 hav been in a depressedcondition, they will be released to the raising influence of spring 55.Continued movement of segment 44 allows the coin C to be carried arounduntil it is in a position to drop into the apertured portion of the coinway 35 below the shaft 22 where the coin comes to rest upon a lug I03 ofa counter-actuating arm I04. When the machine is initially put intoservice the counter-actuating arm permits two coins to be deposited andvisibly retained in the machine before any movement is imparted thereto.In this description of the operation, it is assumed that the necessarytwo coins are on deposit. When the coin C drops into the way below theshaft 22, it comes to rest upon the previously deposited and visiblyretained coins. The clockwise movement of segment 44 thus placed thedeposited coin C beyond control and rotated shaft 22 and likewiseactuated the signal flag holding means by rocking the holding lug 65laterally. The movement of shaft 22 likewise imparted movement to finger90 which pulled the pawl arm 93 and the pawl 91 thereon along the toparcuate fac 88 of plate 84 until the pawl 9! turned downwardly intocontact with. the arcuate face of segment 1'! and rode thereover intoabutment with an exposed abutment screw 18. The further movement of theshaft then imparted bodily movement to the segment 11 and its associatedsleeve 1| and gear segment 14 against the resistance of spring 13 whichis engaged on the pin 12. While the spring was being loaded, the pin 58on segment 44 engaged arm 52 and depressed it, thereby pushingdownwardly on link 53. When pin 54 passed the sloping face of holdinglug 85 the latch member 64 was pushed aside and against resistance ofits holding spring 540 was then returned by said spring whereupon thetendency of arm 52 to lift the link 53 and the signal flag with it wasovercome by lug 54 abutting the latch lug 85. Thus the signal flags areheld in a depressed position and the indicator hand has been movedcounterclockwise. When the user releases actuating handle 28 this handletogether with the disk carrying arcuate flange 3| are spring returned byspring 38. The return movement of flange 3| causes the end 3|0 thereofto push against lug 440, thus serving to reversely drive segment 44,

the return movement of which segment causes the projection I05 thereonto engage the coin which was just deposited and to press downwardlythereon with suflicient pressure to cause the lowermost visible coin topush lug I03 on the counter actuating arm I04. The escapement brakemechanism 99 now delays the movement of sleeve so that in 15 minutes theindicator hand 83 will have traveled to zero position and the screw I5will hav contacted the extending arm 59 and tripped the latch member 64to release finger 54 from lug 85 allowing the violation signal flags 49to rise but not entirely conceal the indicator hands. These flagsindicate that the prepaid parking time has expired and that the motoristhas illegally left the automobile in the parking space. The presence ofthe automobile when the signal fiags are in raised position indicatesviolation of the parking ordinance, and the first 10 minutes ofoverparking may be read from the indicator hands 83 which are stillvisible beyond the cut away corner 49! of the signal flags.

v The police oflicer assigned to the enforcement of parking regulationsis enabled to note either from the roadway side or the sidewalk side ofthe parking device whether an automobile is being illegally parkedeither by failure to pay for a parking term or by remaining beyond theprepaid parking time, the violation signal flags 49 being particularlyconspicuous when in raised position. H may rely on the indicator hand toverify the statement of the motorist who pleads that the flag has justraised.

Inasmuch as the last coin .or token deposited in the machine is visiblethrough the tell-tale aperture, the traflic ofllcer is enabled withlittle diiilculty to apprehend the user of improper objects or slugs forthe purpose of actuating the parking meter.

If a motorist is desirous of extending the parking period at any timeafter initially actuating the machine and prior to the release of theviolation signal at the end of a parking period he may do this byinserting another coin and manipulating the machine as aforesaid. As thesleeve H slowly returns under the influence of spring 13 and under thecontrol of escapement brake 99 the segment 11 which carries theindicator hands 83 is moved with it and the one or several screws orabutments 18 on the periphe y of segment 11 are slowly returned to aposition where they are shielded by the adjustable segment 84. If amotorist desires to initially prepay an extended parking period he maysimultaneously or successively insert two coins and actuate operatinghandle 28 through two complete cycles. The first of thesecycles willcarry one coin through way and the device will perform the functionsjust described for the prepayment of a short parking period. Themovement of segment 11 under the influence of the first operating cyclehas now brought a second one of the screws or abutment lugs 18 beyondthe shielding influence of adjustable segment 84 so that as pawl arm 93moves the pawl over and beyond the periphery of segment 84 the pawl 91may engage the second of these screws 18 and thereafter further move thesegment 11 and the indicator hands carried thereby. This movementcarried the indicator hands and the gear segment '14 further around sothat it will take a longer predetermined time c. g. hour for the partsto return to zero position where the violation signal flags are trippedto raised position. It is to be here noted that upon depositof thesecond coin before the signal flag had been released through the usualactuation of extended arm 69, a momentary release and raising of theflange was effected by the displace, ment of lug 61 from the way by saidlast deposited coin. However, the finger 58 will again engage the arm 52if the movement of the operating handle 28 is continued sufiiciently tomove the coin far enough to drop into the lower portion of th coin wayand beyond further actuating control by the drive segment 44.

As previously set forth, the periphery of segment I1 is drilled andtapped at intervals so that the same meter may be selectively arrangedto provide various short periods of operation and various long periodsof operation by the selective positioning of the screw 18 to secureoperation in conformity with the parking regulations for any selectedvicinity. This is quickly accomplished by a maintenance mechanic whomounted for movement across the window, yieldwould have access to thinterior of the casing. If the operating mechanism as assembled fails tooperate at exactLv the times required .of it,

the pawl arm 93 may be adjusted relative to the finger which is fixed onshaft 22 by merely turning the screw in the requireddirection to causethe pawl 91 to travel a slightly longer or slightly shorter distance inits movement of the segment 'l'l.

The counter I05 registers the number of coins that pass by the lug I03and fall into the coin receptacle l3. The coin receptacle is preferably,but not necessarily, of the type which require a separate key to open itfor the removal of the coins so that a collecting employee may removethe coin boxes through access door I2 and take them to the properdepartment to be emptied and to have the contents recorded.

What is claimed is:

1. In a parking meter the combination of an indicator, yieldable meansurging the indicator in one direction, a setting segment fixed to' andthe pawl on the arm from operative engagement with certain of saidadjustable abutments upon one cycle of operation of the arm whereby thesegment is moved to withdraw a previously shielded adjustable abutmentbeyond the shielded position for engagement by the arm in a subsequentcycle of operation, an operating handle,

a coin conditioned control means operatively connecting the handle andarm for a cycle of arm operation and returnable for a subsequent cycleof operation upon conditioning with another coin, and an escapementmechanism retarding the return movement of the setting segment andindicator.

2. A parking meter adapted for the .pre-payment of short and extendedparking periods comprising a pivoted indicator, means yieldingly urgingthe indicator to zero position, an escapement brake mechanism retardingthe return movement of the indicator by the yielding means, a settingsegment connected to and movable with the indicator, adjustableabutments onthe segment, a movable arm for engaging the abutments on thesegment and moving the segment and indicator against the resistance ofthe yielding means, a shield member adjustably fixed adjacent thesegment and serving to withhold the arm from operative engagement withabutments disposed between the limits of, the shield, and coinconditioned manually operated means for effecting movement of the armfor a single cycle of operation for each coin received therein, wherebyan initially shielded abutment is moved beyond the shield for engagementby the arm on an immediately succeeding operation of the properlyconditioned manually operated means.

3. In a parking meter the combination of a windowed casing, an indicatorunit rockably able means directly operative on the indicator and urgingthe indicator unit to zero position, an escapement brake mechanismefiecting timed retarder movement of the indicator unit to zeroposition, means comprising a movable arm and adjustable abutments on theindicator unit for efiecting predetermined movements of the indicatorunit against the resistance of the yieldable means, a manually operableelement, a complementary element connected with the arm, said elementsadapted to receive a coin between them for eifecting driving relationbetween the manually operable element and the complementary element, aviolation signal, a spring urging the signal to a position of visibilitythrough the window, means on the complementary element for removing thesignal from the window upon each operation of said complementaryelement, latch means for retaining the violation signal free of thewindow and means on the indicator unit for releasing the latch when theindicator unit reaches zero position under the influence of the yieldingmeans.

4. In a parking meter the combination of a windowed casing, violationsignal means, a spring urging the signal means to visible position,means to move the violation signal means from visible position, latchmeans for holding the violation signal means out of visible position, anindicator unit, yieldable means urging the indicator unit to zeroposition, trip means on the indicator unit for releasing the latchmeans, a coin conditioned means, means operable by the coin conditionedmeans for moving the indicator unit against the resistance of theyielding means for a predetermined distance, escapement brake mechanismretarding the return movement of the indicator unit under the influenceof the yield- 1 able means, said coin conditioned means becominginoperative after each cycle of operation and requiring re-conditioningwith another coin for each subsequent operation, subsequent operationsof the coin conditioned means effecting movement of the indicator unitto a predetermined distance from zero and means interconnected with thesignal control means comprising a lug on the latch in the path of adeposited coin for initially tripping the signal latch means at thebeginning of each operation of the coin conditioned means.

5. In a parking meter the combination of a casing having a windowtherein, indicia adjacent the window, an indicator unit rockably mountedin the casing and having a portion thereof operable along the indicia onthe casing, violation signal means movable between said indicator unitand said window and so constructed as to expose the path of theindicator unit adjacent zero position thereof in all positions of saidsignal, yieldable means urging the signal means to a visible positionbefore said window wherein the major portion of the path of movement ofthe indicator unit is concealed, means yieldably urging the indicatorunit toward and beyond a zero position, means including a coinconditioned member,asetting means and cooperating adjustable abutmentson the indicator unit adapted for rockable movement whereby a firstrocking cycle sets the indicator unit at a predetermined distance fromzero position and a subsequent rocking cycle sets the indicator unit ata predetermined further distance from zero, means operable by said coinconditioned member for moving said violation signal away from thewindow, a latch for holding the violation signal means in the last namedposition, means on the latch and disposed normally in the path of adeposited coin for tripping the latch upon initiation of the rockingcycle of said coin conditioned member, and means moving with theindicator unit for tripping the latch when the indicator unit reacheszero position under the influence of its yielding means.

6. In a parking meter the combination of a casing having a windowtherein, indicia adjacent the window, an indicator unit rockably mountedin the casing and having a portion thereof operable along the indicia onthe casing, violation signal means movable between said indicator unitand said window and so constructed as to expose the path of theindicator unit adjacent zero position thereof in all positions of saidsignal, means yieldably urging said signal means to a visible positionwherein the major portion of the path of movement of the indicator unitis concealed, means yieldably urging the indicator unit toward andbeyond a zero position, coin controlled means mounted in the casing foretfecting successive increased total settings or the indicator unitagainst the resistance of the yieldably urging means by relatively rapidrepeated operations of the coin controlled means and a latch for holdingthe violation signal means out of the path of the indicator unit andadapted to be tripped to release the violation signal means by theindicator unit as it moves to zero position.

7. In a parking meter the combination of a casing having a windowtherein, indicia adjacent the window, an indicator unit rockably mountedin the casing and having a portion thereof operable along the indicia onthe casing, violation signal means movable between said indicator unitand said window and so constructed as to expose the path of theindicator unit adjacent zero position thereon in all positions of saidsignal, means yieldably urging said signal means to a visible positionwherein the major portion of the path of movement of the indicator unitis concealed, means yieldably urging the indicator unit toward andbeyond a zero position, coin controlled means mounted in the casing forsetting the indicator unit at selected indicia, means for moving theviolation signal means away from the window and a latch for holding theviolation signal means in the last named position and adapted to betripped by the indicator unit as said indicator unit reaches zeroposition.

8. In a setting mechanism for a parking meter the combination of ashaft, a setting segment rockable on the shaft, a fixed abutment on saidsegment, a setting arm fixed on the shaft, adjustable abutments on thesetting segment for engagement by the setting arm, an adjustable shieldfor withholding the arm from certain of said abutments during apredetermined movement of the arm, and a coin conditioned membercontrolling movement of the shaft whereby forthwith successiveoperations of the shaft causes the arm to engage an unshielded abutmentand move the setting segment to advance successive abutments beyond theshield to effect predetermined different settings of said segment.

9. A parking meter adapted for the prepayment of selective short andextended parking periods comprising a coin receiving guide member havinga pair of opposed arcuate slots in the sidewalls thereof, a coinsupporting element rockable in the guide member and having a slottherein corresponding to the slots in said sidewalls, a shaft fixed tosaid element, a second coin engaging element rockably mounted outsidethe guide member, an arcuate flange on said second element adapted topass through the slots in the sidewalls and the first mentioned coinsupporting element and adapted, upon deposit of a coin in the guidemember to abut the coin for moving the first mentioned element andshaft, an indicator setting disc rockably supported by the shaft andhaving spaced peripheral abutments, an arm fixed on the shaft, a pawl onthe arm overhanging the setting disc and a shield member adjustablyfixed relative to said arm and disc for withholding the pawl fromcertain of the abutments in certain positions of the setting discwhereby other abutments are first engaged by the pawl to move theindicator and setting disc to expose the said certain abutments forsubsequent abutment by the pawl.

10. In a parking meter mechanism, a shaft, an indicator means freelyrockable thereon, means fixed on the shaft to successively move theindicator in one direction about the shaft upon successive movements ofthe shaft, means yieldably urging the indicator in the oppositedirection, and coin controlled means for manually rocking the shaft.

11. In a timing apparatus, means for indicating the passage of timecomprising a dial and a hand movable over said dial, means for settingsaid hand at a predetermined starting point with respect to said dial.and a signalling means connected to said first means and operable uponthe expiration of a predetermined period of time following said settingoperation, said signalling means including a shield adapted to move to aposition between said hand and said dial.

FRANK L. MICHAELS.

- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,268,716. January 6, 19h2.

FRANK L. HICHAELS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,second column, line 75, claim 5, for "retarder" read --retarded--; page6; second column, lines 62, 65'and 6h, claim-8, strike out "to effectpredetermined different settings of said segment"; and that the saidLetters Patent shouldbe read with this correction thereir; that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Pater 1t Office.

Signed and sealed this 5rd day of March, A. n. 1912.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

